The Elms

The Elms is a large town house, now used as offices, with a complex history dating back to the 16th century or earlier. It was significantly rebuilt in the late 18th century and extended in the mid-19th century, with later alterations in the late 20th century. The building is constructed of brick, originally tuck-pointed, with traces of this finish remaining. It has a hipped slate roof. The layout is based on a central staircase with flanking extensions.

The house has two storeys, a cellar, and attics. The front elevation is symmetrical, comprising seven bays and featuring outer extensions of one bay each, plus a single-storey extension to the right of the right-hand extension. A 20th-century door sits centrally, beneath a semi-circular radiating and wreathed fanlight. A central, pedimented projection rises above the main structure with a cornice at a slightly higher level. This projection includes a circular window with wavy pattern glazing bars in the tympanum and a semi-circular first-floor window with radiating glazing and a small arched opening light. The circular window is supported by a keystone and stone cill on console brackets. Below is a six-panelled door with a rectangular Gothic fanlight set in a deep reveal, framed by a bold Doric doorcase featuring two slightly engaged columns, an entablature, and a pediment. The door is flanked by two ground-floor windows, all within the central bay.

Inside, the entrance hall features 20th-century doors within moulded architraves with leaf enrichment. A stone fireplace has large, curved and fluted brackets supporting a dentilled and moulded over-mantel. The hall connects to the staircase via a square panelled opening, flanked by two engaged columns on moulded bases with guttae and triglyph friezes of the Doric order. The open well staircase has stick balusters, a moulded and wreathed handrail, moulded tread ends, and a moulded wall string, with the soffit returning across the staircase's full width. A semi-circular headed landing window features radiating glazing bars. Most windows to the main rooms still have panelled, folding shutters.